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New Veterinarian Joins Escambia County Animal Shelter

Escambia County Animal Services is welcoming a new veterinarian to the animal shelter staff, who will be responsible for the care of animals and ensuring they are spayed, neutered, healthy and ready for adoption.

Dr. Johnna Lee joins the Escambia County Animal Shelter from Hartselle, Alabama, where she most recently worked as the chief of staff at Banfield Pet Hospital in Decatur, Alabama. Lee graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor’s Degree in poultry science and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctorate’s Degree in veterinary medicine before completing her clinical rotations at Auburn University.

At Banfield Pet Hospital, Lee managed the hospital, provided veterinary care and trained new veterinarians. While working at Banfield, Lee also served as the veterinarian for the Decatur Police Department’s K-9 unit, ensuring the canine officers’ health and well-being.

Lee started with the county on Sept. 12, beginning her first experience working at an animal shelter. Although the job is still new, Lee said she’s already loving it and looks forward to coming to work every day.

“I think at any job, you need to have a purpose, you need to feel like you’re making a difference,” Lee said. “Even though I’ve been here a short time, I already feel like I’m making a difference…Honestly, I think it’s the people here. The people that work here, they’ve got it right. They really do care, and they really do have the best interest of all of these animals at heart.”

Escambia County Animal Services Director John Robinson said he and his staff are excited to have an in-house veterinarian again, which the shelter has been without for nearly a year.

“I’m even more thrilled that it’s a great vet,” Robinson said. “One of the challenges is that I wasn’t out there just to find a vet, but to find the right vet. I think that’s the best part is that Dr. Lee is amazing.”

While the shelter was without a veterinarian, Robinson said they had the support of local veterinarians and Pensacola State College to help with spay and neuter surgeries, medical issues and medical profiles for cruelty cases.

To aid in finding good homes for as many animals as possible, the Escambia County Animal Shelter transferred dogs to other shelters in the north, such as Providence Animal Center and Michigan Humane Society, who had space to take animals in for adoption. The shelter’s ongoing partnership with the nonprofit group Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter helped coordinate this transport effort.

Several local and non-local rescue groups along with the Pensacola Humane Society also helped by pulling animals from the shelter to adopt out from their respective organizations. Robinson said it has been a group effort to keep animals healthy and get them adopted during the search for a veterinarian, and the community was a huge help.

“That is the great thing about the animal welfare community – they will always come to your aid in a time of need,” Robinson said. “We are happy to return the favor when we can.”

Although the outside support was much appreciated, Robinson said having a permanent veterinarian on staff is ideal since Lee will become more familiar with the animals and their needs. With an in-house veterinarian, animals will also be able to get spayed and neutered more quickly so they can be ready for adoption.

Along with general care of the animals at the shelter, Robinson said Lee’s job responsibilities include educating staff and the community.

“The only the way the shelter succeeds and reaches the goals it wants to is if we help our community understand how to better care for their animals,” Robinson said.

Lee said her goals while at the shelter include keeping the animal population as healthy as possible so they can find good homes. While it’s always a work in progress, she said it’s already rewarding to see animals getting adopted more frequently.

“It’s something we strive really hard for every day,” Lee said. “Every day, and every week I come in, and there’s more empty kennels – and that’s awesome.”

For more information about the Escambia County Animal Shelter, including how to adopt a pet, click here.